Day 7 - Chhukhung Ri - Meat and Potatoes, Minus the meat.

Today is our last acclimation hike of the trip.  Mountaineering is not as exciting as it sounds.  Climb 1,500 feet, descend 1,500 feet, rest, sleep, repeat.  Today however was an amazing climb to Chhukhung Ri (18,200 feet).  We were in airplane flight levels!  We took our time and learned from our mistakes.  Kept our heart rate as low as possible, took lots of breaks, and drank a ton of water.  This climb is used the check your body's health before crossing the first of 3 high passes on this trek.  Halfway up we heard the sound of a helicopter.  That's an ominous sound here.  Someone is sick.  The chopper flies low over the valley due to the elevation here.  He circles the village before landing and the locals rush the trekker inside.  There's all kinds of drama about the guides here and their responsibilities with it comes to clients.  I'll save that for another time.

We both woke headache free which is a good sign.  Still no appetite, but the fried potatoes seems to do the trick.  Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.  Potatoes with yak cheese, potatoes with onions, potatoes with a fried egg on top.  All served with as much garlic as they will give me.  It works, that's all that matters.  I just hope potatoes don't turn into my arch nemesis like oatmeal.  7 years now and just the word, oatmeal, makes my stomach turn.  With the exception of Eric's baked oatmeal.

The view from the top of the mountain was 360 degrees.  The mountains to our Northwest are the tallest in the World and divide the countries of Nepal and Tibet.  Our bodies did great at this altitude, although Shadow got a headache after coming back down to the village.  He found some instant coffee from the local "store".  Instant coffee is all you will find here.  After a strong cup and some time resting with his feet elevated, he feels better.  By now, if you have had any altitude illness, you will be taking Diamox.  Using that drug is a slippery slope and we would prefer not to take it.